The magnificent saguaro is dominant cactus in the Arizona Upland. It is also an oft-used symbol of Arizona desert. This strange sentinel of the Sonoran Desert, which sometimes stands as tall as fifty feet, grows in "forests," embracing other living things in what appears to be an almost parental relationship. This miraculous plant is the consummate example of the interrelationship that exists among the plants, birds, insects, reptiles and mammals of the natural world.

The mature saguaro is a mammoth; it is about Thirty-five feet tall and weighs several tons.

The saguaro blossom is the official flower of the state of Arizona, one of only two states in which the saguaro grows. Such flowers may take many, many years to appear. Saguaros don't produce their first flowers until they are seven or eight feet tall and are fifty to sixty years old.

The spines of this Sonoran giant help it to adapt to its unyielding environment in a couple of ways. To deal with the difficult problem of storing water in a land where it is scarce and at the same time keeping this supply protected from thirsty, hungry animals. This spiny armor serves to deter its enemies, however, even the spiniest cacti are not completely immune to attack by woodrats, rabbits, bighorn sheep, javelina, and other creatures.

More important to the survival of the saguaro is the fact that these spines shade the plant from the relentless sun and insulate it against freezing. The spines also create a barrier against desiccating desert winds.